Revelation 7:9-17 — The Great Multitude

Rev. 7:9   After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from  every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing  before the throne and  before the Lamb, clothed in  white robes, and  palm branches were in their hands;  10 and they cry out with a loud voice, saying,

 “ Salvation to our God  who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”  11 And all the angels were standing  around the throne and around  the elders and the  four living creatures; and they  fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,  12 saying,

 “ Amen,  blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever.  Amen.”

Rev. 7:13   Then one of the elders  answered, saying to me, “These who are clothed in the  white robes, who are they, and where have they come from?”  14 I  said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the  great tribulation, and they have  washed their robes and made them  white in the  blood of the Lamb.  15 “For this reason, they are  before the throne of God; and they  serve Him day and night in His   temple; and  He who sits on the throne will spread His  tabernacle over them.  16 “ They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun  beat down on them, nor any heat;  17 for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their  shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the   water of life; and  God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

Prayer and Bible Expo

After seeing the 144,000 sealed bond-servants of God,  what does John see? (7:9)

“. . . a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues . . .” (7:9).

Describe the great multitude (7:9-10).  Where are they (heaven or earth)?

The multitude was so great that they could not be counted. The multitude represents all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. They are standing before the throne of God and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes. Palm branches are in their hands as they worship God and the Lamb with loud voices. (Place: Heaven)

What is the multitude saying with a loud voice?  (7:10)

“Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (7:10).

Describe the worship scene in Rev. 7:11-12.  What is ascribed to God forever?

All the angels were standing around the throne, the elders, and the four living creatures. They fall on their faces before the throne and worship God, saying, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (7:11-12).

What does one of the elders ask John? How does John respond? (7:14)

“These who are clothed in the white robes, who are they, and where have they come?” John said to him, “My lord, you know” (7:14).

How does the elder identify the great multitude?

“And he said to me, ‘These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb’” (7:14).

For what reason is the multitude before the throne of God (7:15)?

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. “For this reason, they are before the throne of God; and they serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sits on the throne will spread His tabernacle over them” (7:15).

What is the future of the great multitude of martyrs? (7:16)

They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat (7:16).

Who will shepherd the multitude? Where will He guide them? Who will wipe their tears?

·      “for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd” (7:17).

·      The Lamb “will guide them to springs of the water of life” (7:17).

·      “and God will wipe every tear from their eyes” (7:17).

What impresses you about Rev 7:9-17?

The great multitude, which comes out of the tribulation, having washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb, represents all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. They come out of the tribulation and come into the Presence of God and of the Lamb. The multitude worships in the throne room of God. Jesus will shepherd them and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

What do you learn about God from Rev 7:9-17?

God does not discriminate. He is served and worshipped by people from all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues. Those who come out of the great tribulation, having washed and whitened their robes in the blood of the Lamb, worship and serve God and the Lamb. God Himself wipes away all their tears, and Jesus will shepherd them.

God’s grace is still available during the great tribulation. During this time of terrible judgment, God will save sinners who repent and wash their robes in the blood of Jesus. The glory of God’s grace and power of Jesus’ blood are magnified during a time of incomparable trouble while God’s wrath is being poured out upon the world.

How could this transform your life?

Heed God’s kingdom plan, embracing people from all nations, tribes, and tongues.

Never underestimate the grace of God towards sinners who have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Proclaim the gospel to all people with faith in God’s power and desire to save sinners from judgment and reconcile all to Himself through Jesus.

God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, God of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, glorious is Your grace towards sinners of all nations, color, and circumstance. Salvation is by Your grace through faith alone in Jesus, Your Son, Savior of the world, Lord over all. For You so loved the world, that You gave Your only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

 For You did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Jesus died on the cross. Jesus was raised from the dead. He appeared to the apostles and over 500 people after His resurrection before ascending to heaven where He sat down at Your right hand. The Gospel is Your power of salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. May You send and equip servants to go out into the harvest, empowered and equipped by the Holy Spirit, to proclaim the gospel in power and truth. May eyes be opened so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance amongst those who have been sanctified by faith in Jesus.

Praise to the glory of Your grace, which You freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. May You give a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of You. May the eyes of hearts be enlightened, so that the hope of Your calling is made known, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward all who believe. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.